Today California, tomorrow “Aztlan”

My friend Craig Harrision called my attention to this week-old piece from WorldNetDaily by Michelle Malkin about Cruz Bustamante’s ties to the racist Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan (Aztlan being essentially the southwest portion of the U.S. which the Movement hopes to reconquer for Mexico, or something). Bustamante was a member when he was a student in the 1970s. Rocket Man and I have, perforce, some sympathy for the notion that one’s student-day affiliations ought not be held against one. However, Malkin (quoting the blogger Tacitus) makes the point that “former Klansmen and former Nazis don’t get a pass unless they spend a great deal of time and energy apologizing for and explaining themselves in a convincing manner.” So perhaps Bustamante (who recently used the “N” word during a public appearance) should start explaining.
At a minimum, Bustamante’s past should put an end to discussions about Arnold’s father’s Nazi party membership. Who here thinks it will?
HINDROCKET adds: True enough, Deacon, we’re not about to start throwing stones at the political follies of one’s youth. There is, however, this point: The issues pressed by the Aztlan “movement” in the 1970’s are very much alive in California today. Where, exactly, does Bustamante stand on them now? If someone was a Klansman fifty years ago, it casts doubt on his moral character and his judgment, but no one seriously thinks that a 21st century politician will take office and start pursuing pro-Klan policies. In contrast, it is not at all unreasonable to worry that Bustamante might pursue immigration-related policies that would be deeply destructive of California and the nation.
DEACON responds: I think that’s a very legitimate concern, although I suspect that to the extent Bustamante pursues such policies it will have a lot more to do with rank opportunism than with “Aztlan” ideology.